Chad Turner

DET 2-1. Greene MVP

PHI 2-1, Turner MVP

No one is going to want Bender coming off TJS, since he might get shut down by the deadline. Scott should net more than we gave up for Robertson last year though. He should be traded ASAP. I would be surprised if Jazz nets Jaison Chourio. More like the other two only. He would have to really heat up. But I do think he will be traded. No way we get 3 prospects for DLC. He had a negative WAR last year. Not exactly sure what a replacement level OF gets you. Hopefully Bell will heat up, but he's out of shape and has a bloated contract. Plus he's off to a very slow start that I doubt he can get out of without protection in the lineup. I think we build around Burger. I could see one of Luzardo or Garrett being traded if they are hot.

Dodgers sweep. Freeman MVP

...in this analytics thing. I was upset at the Brujan/Faucher trade. How can you trade for the worst player in MLB (.438 OPS) with no options left and waste a 40-man spot on Faucher (7.01 ERA)? Burch who? Dump Okert and sign Cronin? Roddery Munoz? I thought these guys were only going to hurt the Marlins. The fact that they are kinda helping is just weird. Not everyone has worked out, but I am curious what Bendix can do with a little money, considering all of these guys are making the minimum. Obviously starting pitching was supposed to be our strength. Our top 4 arms (Sandy, Eury, Jesus, and Brax) are out. Our pitching staff contains 5 guys that didn't pitch at all last year and 4 more that had ERA's north of 5.40. We just swept a team with our best power bat out. Baseball is a strange sport indeed.

Marlins sweep, Arraez MVP

Marlins 3-1, Arraez MVP

SF 2-1. Arraez MVP.

Braves win 2-1. Arraez MVP

Gray is the exception right now, but I never put faith into one week of AAA numbers for a 28 yr old prospect. He does look like a specimen, but batted .182 in the spring and batted .235 in his 3rd AAA season last year. The list of 28 yr old hitting prospects making a substantial impact in the majors is a very short list. I do recall you were the only professional writer in the world to include him on a top 30 list (#30), so props to you.

Yankees win 2-1, Arraez MVP

Well, we got some $$$ and Bellozo. What a crap return for a top 10 prospect. I know he wasn't hitting well enough to make the show yet, but crushed 13 more HRs than Lopez last year. I actually thought Amaya was a little overrated with all the Ks, but never thought we would just dump him and replace with a lesser player. I'm trying not to overreact to this season yet, but early returns for Bendix are crap. Brujan and Bethancourt are 0-for-20. Bride and Gordon sub .150. Emmanuel, Smith, and Gutierrez over 6.50 ERAs. I was hoping he would find some diamonds in the rough. We just picked up the Rays trash. Bring back Ng?

How is Otto Lopez better than Amaya? SMH

Marlins 3-0, Arraez MVP

First, I am happy with the trade. I loved Berti, but this was the time to get max value for him. In my opinion, it's easy to compare Andres Valor and John Cruz. They are the same height, similar weight, and are just over 2 months apart. They both play OF. Valor seems to have a better shot at sticking in CF though, and may have a touch more speed. But Cruz has more power. Plus the fact that he's a year ahead and put up those numbers stateside makes me want to rank him higher. That being said, it's a small sample size. Then there's Luis Cova with no sample size. It's really hard to judge these youngsters, but it seems like Cruz could climb into the top 5 with a repeat in A ball. Right now I would put him at 9. He's a high risk/rewrd 45 guy. Sasaki is a year older than Mesa Jr and a level behind, so he's nowhere near a top 5 guy. Mesa obviously has more power but more swing and miss too. I would slot him in around 15 on our list, just behind Valor. He's a low risk 40 guy to me. He is our best 23yr old prospect and fills a need at that age level.

2-2. Arraez MVP

I really wish prospect lists should be broken into 2 or 3 different groups. AA/AAA/MLB - anyone 27 and under with less than a full season of experience should be on this list. Eury would be our top prospect and Myers would be aged out. This would contain guys that could help this season. Edwards would be #2 A/A+ - a cup of coffee in AA would still qualify you for this list. A half season there would disqualify you. I guess you could include the HS guys in the first few rds of the draft here too. R/DSL - I'm not even sure we even need a list for these guys, since 95% will switch orgs before making it to the show. To me, this is such a better format. Myers is 7 years older than Eury, and older than over half our projected opening day roster. It's ridiculous that we are including him on a prospect list and not a 20 yr old. You could also compare us to other franchises easier.

Well I don't like Jazz throwing vets under the bus, but I'm glad to hear the team is united under Skip. It seemed Mattingly was too laid back. Perhaps Rojas was a little nutty, but that dude loved the Marlins. Until Jazz puts up, he should shut up. To me he's a pompous .245 hitter with a career 103 OPS+. I remember when Jose F. showed a pitcher up, a vet got on him, and he apologized. Stay classy Miami.

Noble MeyerThomas WhiteMax MeyerXavier EdwardsVictor Mesa Jr.Dax FultonJacob AmayaTroy JohnstonJacob BerryLuis CovaKarson MilbrandtYiddi CappeAndrés ValorDane MyersJacob MillerPatrick MonteverdeKemp AldermanJuan De La CruzWill BanfieldFabian LópezAnthony MaldonadoJavier SanojaBrock VradenburgJosé DeversSixto SánchezJoe MackYoffry SolanoTorin MontgomeryLuarbert AriasNigel Belgrave

Best case scenario for Cabrera is that he's on the Brax timeline IMHO. That takes Puk and Weathers out of the pen and into the rotation, which is well deserved. Puk's throwing 5 different pitches and Weathers' velo (and control) is up. Rogers wasn't a shoe-in to make it, but with Meyer sent down, that's what we got. He's looked decent. The 'pen is messy. Scott needs to put the train back on the rails. He and Nard dog are the only lefties we have with Simpson (elbow) and Smeltzer not looking good. Brazoban's locker is cleared out (visa), Chargois (neck)got a late start with reduced velo, and Faucher's got a shoulder. Bender and Sixto(!) are coming off major injuries, but are pencilled in. Hoeing and Soriano were probably battling for the long reliever role, but now both could make it. They will have to hold off the rookies Maldonado and Cronin. Several NRI's have flashed, including the hard throwing Alvarado. I guess they possibly could squeeze out one of the roster guys. For now I would go with Scott, Nardi, Bender, Chargois, Soriano, Maldonado, Sixto, and Hoeing, with Cronin being next up.

I would say that Fortes has to step up the last 10 games. Skip loves Casali, and Banfield is hot. Don't forget he hit 23 HRs last year in AA. We could use that power behind the plate. I hated the Brujan trade since he's out of options. I guess that forces him on the opening day roster. I would much rather have Edwards there - or even Gray or Mancini for their power output. The OF seems set, with Myers the only incumbent left. Will they cut bait with Avi? It seems like he will get at least a month or so since he came into camp in shape this time.

I thought she did a really good job. She was offered to stay, but would have worked under Bendix, and she opted out. Sherman wanted to go in an analytics-driven direction with a big front office who would improve our draft and minor leagues. Basically the low budget Tampa model. I feel like Sherman has our best interests in mind, as did Ng. It may be telling that she doesn't have another job yet, but I think it's a shame. Jeter was the problem. He forced the Avi signing and the Jazz/Gallen trade, was inexperienced in management, and did not focus on the minors, the draft, or the fan experience.

"Spring stats matter!" - Lewis Brinson I liked Bleday but was nervous when we drafted him after one big college season. It's such a crap shoot though. I wondered if we gave up on him a little early, but numbers rarely lie. The hit tool is not there. 30% K rate in the pros and the big time power hasn't showed yet. I bet our quad-A guy Myers outperforms him again. That guy makes contact.

Well I agree that we need more speed at the top. A healthy Jazz might provide that (no more turf toe), and TA should be healthier too. I love Edwards, but the main problem is his arm strength sucks. This was from an old shoulder injury hopefully and he will be given a chance to prove it at SS in AAA. Otherwise he's a 2B, and we've got Arraez there. We are betting on a bounce back season from Tim after 7 minor injuries (neck, finger, hammy, knee, groin, shoulder, forearm) and off field drama. When someone gets hurt, Edwards will be next man up. Brujan also has a ton to prove and I could see a quick exit for him, which could also benefit Edwards. Sixto is only pitching 70 innings this year, so it may as well be in the pen. He's out-of-options, so he needs to stick there for now. Next year he can compete for a starter spot if he makes it that long. I'm rooting for the comeback!

Marlins' spring ERA when a pitcher throws 2 or more innings: 44 IP, 6 ER, 1.23 ERA. I know it's spring and early, but this is without 2 of their pencilled-in starters. Smeltzer has been the only disappointment. What will we do with all these guys? I feel a trade coming. MLB: Luzardo, Eury, Puk, Ed, Weathers, Rogers (Long relief until he gets built up), Brax (IL for first 2 weeks until he gets built up) AAA: Max, Muñoz, Chirinos, Soriano, Hoeing, Andriese, Lindgren (long Relief), Smeltzer (cut) AA: Monteverde (again?), Bermudez, Buxton, Johnson, Macuare, Palacios, Pilar- that's 7!, Fulton (IL) I guess Soriano and Hoeing could be considered for the bullpen, but that gets crowded too. Ultimately this is a good problem to have after 9 spring games.